Hibiscus plant named ‘Orange Lava Wind’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hibiscus  plant named ‘Orange Lava Wind’, characterized by its semi-upright and uniformly mounded plant habit appropriate for container production; freely branching habit, dense and bushy appearance; glossy dark green-colored leaves; uniform, freely and early flowering habit; single orange-colored flowers with dark red-colored centers; good postproduction and garden performance; and resistance to Bacterial Leaf Spot.

Botanical designation: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘ORANGE LAVA WIND’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Hibiscus plant,botanically known as Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Orange Lava Wind’.

The new Hibiscus plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Alva, Fla. The objective of the breedingprogram is to create new freely-branching Hibiscus plants with uniformplant habit appropriate for container production, early and freelyflowering habit, desirable flower color, good garden performance andresistance to Bacterial Leaf Spot.

The new Hibiscus plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in Alva, Fla. in 2017 of a proprietary selection of Hibiscusrosa-sinensis identified as code number 3352, not patented, as thefemale, or seed, parent with Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Passion Wind’,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,124, as the male, or pollen, parent.The new Hibiscus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as asingle flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Alva, Fla.on Aug. 20, 2018.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Alva, Fla. sinceNovember, 2018 has shown that the unique features of this new Hibiscusplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Orange Lava Wind’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Orange Lava Wind’ as a newand distinct Hibiscus plant:

-   -   1. Semi-upright and uniformly mounded plant habit appropriate        for container production.    -   2. Freely branching habit, dense and bushy appearance.    -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Uniform, freely and early flowering habit.    -   5. Single orange-colored flowers with dark red-colored centers.    -   6. Good postproduction and garden performance.    -   7. Resistant to Bacterial Leaf Spot.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily fromplants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus have orange-colored flowers        whereas plants of the female parent selection have light        pink-colored flowers.    -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus have better garden performance        than plants of the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more resistant to Bacterial        Leaf Spot than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the male parent,‘Passion Wind’. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily from plantsof ‘Passion Wind’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus have orange-colored flowers        whereas plants of ‘Passion Wind’ have red purple-colored        flowers.    -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus have better garden performance        than plants of ‘Passion Wind’.    -   3. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more resistant to Bacterial        Leaf Spot than plants of ‘Passion Wind’.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the Hibiscusrosa-sinensis ‘Improved Mandarin Wind’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.24,981. In side-by-side comparisons plants of the new Hibiscus differfrom plants of ‘Improved Mandarin Wind’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more uniform in plant habit        than plants of ‘Improved Mandarin Wind’.    -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus have better garden performance        than plants of ‘Improved Mandarin Wind’.    -   3. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more resistant to Bacterial        Leaf Spot than plants of ‘Improved Mandarin Wind’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Hibiscus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Hibiscus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 ) is a side perspective viewof typical budded plants of ‘Orange Lava Wind’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 ) is a close-up view of atypical open flower of ‘Orange Lava Wind’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the summer in 15-cm containersin a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Alva, Fla. and in 25-cmcontainers in an outdoor nursery in Fort Worth, Tex. under culturalpractices which closely approximate commercial Hibiscus production.During the production of the plants in Texas, day temperatures rangedfrom 35° C. to 40° C., night temperatures ranged from 24° C. to 35° C.and light levels ranged from 5,000 to 7,500 foot-candles. Plants werepinched two times and were ten months old when the photographs and thedescription were taken. In the description, color references are made toThe Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Orange Lava Wind’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hibiscus            rosa-sinensis identified as code number 3352, not patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Passion            Wind’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,124.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About four to            five weeks.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and            winter.—About five to six weeks.        -   Root description.—Thick, fibrous; typically white to light            brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on            substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer, substrate            temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial, evergreen,            semi-upright and uniformly mounded plant habit; vigorous            growth habit and rapid growth rate.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with lateral            branches potentially develop at every node; pinching            enhances lateral branch development; dense and bushy            appearance.        -   Plant height.—About 45 cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 52 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 40 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 3.5 cm.        -   Internode length.—About 1.1 cm.        -   Aspect.—Upright to somewhat outwardly spreading.        -   Texture and luster, immature.—Smooth, glabrous; matte.        -   Texture and luster, mature.—Woody and rough; matte.        -   Color, immature.—Close to 148A variably overlain with close            to 187A.        -   Color, mature.—Close to N199A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single; numerous; symmetrical.        -   Length.—About 9.1 cm.        -   Width.—About 9.25 cm.        -   Shape.—Broadly ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous;            semi-glossy.        -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Slightly rough, glabrous;            matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Darker green than            146A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker green than NN137A;            midvein, close to 146A and lateral venation, close to            NN137A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to            N137B; venation, close to 146A.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 3.7 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte.            Texture and luster, lower surface: Slightly rough, glabrous;            matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146A            variably overlain with close to 187A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and flowering habit.—Rounded single            flowers arranged at terminal leaf axils; uniform and freely            flowering habit with about two to three flowers per            terminal; flowers face mostly upright to slightly outwardly.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Hibiscus flower            naturally during the spring and summer or during periods of            warm weather; plants flower year-round in the greenhouse.        -   Flower longevity.—Depending on temperature and water status,            flowers typically last about two to three days on the plant;            flowers persistent.        -   Flower diameter.—About 10.25 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 8.5 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Resistance to abscission during shipping:            Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed to resist            flower bud drop during shipping. Length: About 1.5 cm.            Diameter: About 9 mm. Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster:            Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: More green than            137A.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Corolla consists of a single whorl of            five petals that are fused at base; petals imbricate.            Length: About 7.25 cm. Width: About 6.5 cm. Shape: Roughly            spatulate. Apex: Rounded; undulate. Base: Attenuate. Margin:            Entire; undulate. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,            glabrous; velvety; slightly glossy. Texture and luster,            lower surface: Glabrous; veins prominent; semi-glossy.            Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close            to N25A to N25B; towards the throat, close to 53C and            throat, close to 53A. When opening and fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 25B to 25C.        -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals in a single whorl fused into            a tubular star-shaped calyx. Length: About 2.5 cm. Width:            About 1.2 cm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Sharply acute.            Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,            glabrous; glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth,            glabrous; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to 146B to            146C. Color, lower surface: Darker green than 146A.        -   Epicalyx.—Quantity and arrangement: About six to seven in a            single whorl fused at base. Length: About 1.5 cm. Width:            About 5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Sharply acute. Margin:            Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to            146A. Color, lower surface: More green than 147A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.5 cm to 3.5 cm. Diameter: About            2.25 mm. Aspect: Upright to slightly outwardly. Strength:            Strong, flexible. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;            slightly glossy. Color: Close to 144A; proximally, tinged            with close to 187A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous,            about 35 per flower. Filament length: About 5 mm. Filament            color: Close to 25A to 25B. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther            length: About 1.75 mm. Anther color: Close to 25A. Amount of            pollen: Sparse to moderate. Pollen color: Close to N25B.            Gynoecium: Pistil number: One per flower. Pistil length:            About 7.6 cm. Style length: About 6.4 cm. Style texture and            luster: Smooth, glabrous; waxy; glossy. Style color: Close            to 46A. Stigma appearance: Five-parted, rounded. Stigma            color: Close to 53A. Ovary color: Close to 11C to 11D.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production has not            been observed on plants of the new Hibiscus.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed to    have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and    temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 40° C.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been    observed to be resistant to Bacterial Leaf Spot (Pseudomonas    cichorii). To date, plants of the new Hibiscus grown under Florida    production conditions have not been shown to be resistant to pests    and other pathogens common to Hibiscus plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘Orange LavaWind’ as illustrated and described.